General News
4 May, 2024
Near miss at school crossing 'avoidable'
A school crossing supervisor had to put themself between a child and an approaching car as the driver had apparently not spotted the youngster on the road.
The near miss in Baillie Street - believed to be outside Horsham Primary School - involved the driver of a black SUV who, according to Horsham Rural City Council, "failed to notice the crossing was in use".
Council CEO Sunil Bhalla said it was the community's responsibility to ensure people's safety, and disregarding laws was "a needless risk".
In the past the council has issued infringement notices to drivers failing to follow safety rules for crossings but did not issue a notice to the driver of the SUV.
"Our crossing staff are part-time workers who work hard in sometimes challenging conditions," he said.
"They're often out in the cold and rain and doing their best to keep the kids safe.
"They deserve respect from all motorists."
The council has 10 patrolled crossings and two unpatrolled ones.
Supervisors work from 8am to 9am and 3pm to 4pm each school day.
The majority of school zones are 40 km/h zones around the clock.
Mr Bhalla said every driver had a part to play to ensure safety around schools.
"It’s good to remember that no matter how well children are taught, they may respond unpredictably," he said.
"We’ve had a few people fail to give way while other people tend to drive too fast or don’t wait until all of the pedestrians have fully left the crossing."
Council issed a notice in its online newsletter and reinforced crossing regulations to motorists:
* Stop if a child or adult is about to cross or is crossing, even if there is no uniformed supervisor
* Stop if a hand-held “stop” sign is displayed
* Only proceed when all children and adults, including the supervisor, are clear of the crossing
* Approach at a speed slow enough to safely stop
* Don't overtake a vehicle stopping or stopped at the crossing